QDMA Articles :
Food Plot Species Profile - Kale
By: Kent Kammermeyer
Origin/Description
In the last issue of Quality Whitetails, we dove into the Brassica
family starting with forage rape. A close cousin to rape is kale,
the focus of this column. The three main species of forage brassicas
used for late fall pasture are rape, kale, and turnip.
Kale is a cold-hardy, crop-producing green high in nutritive value.
It is not well adapted to hot weather. Best quality is produced
where summers are cool or when it is grown into the fall or winter.
Dry matter yields of kale range from 4,500 to 7,100 pounds per
acre. Crude protein of kale leaves ranges from 18 to 25 percent,
which is very similar to rape. Kale is slower growing than rape
and takes a longer growing season to reach its full grazing potential
(rape is faster at accumulating forage for browsing). However,
it can provide excellent winter browse just like rape. Kale is
of particular interest when a large amount of forage is desired
for winter grazing. In this situation, managers need to allow
for a long growing period (five to six months) in order to give
kale time to slowly reach its potential yield.
Adaptation/Establishment
Kale is adapted across the entire U.S. and up into Canada. It
produces best in the northern states where summers are cool. However,
it can be planted in late summer in Florida. Preferred time of
planting in most of the U.S. is June or July. Plant at four to
five pounds per acre and plan on leaf maturity for maximum yield
to occur in 110 to 150 days in November, December, or January.
Plant kale seeds one-half inch deep in well drained loams high
in organic matter. Clay or sandy soils will do okay. The desirable
pH is between 5.5 and 6.5. General fertilizer recommendations
for kale are 60 to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre, 80 to 120
pounds of phosphorus per acre, and 60 to 120 pounds of potassium
per acre. In other words, 300 pounds per acre of 19-19-19 at planting
would be a minimum application, with 400 pounds producing better
growth. Other elements needed include one to four pounds of boron
per acre, 60 to 120 pounds of magnesium per acre, and trace amounts
of copper and zinc. Get a soil test to be sure of these requirements
in your area.
Varieties/Management
Varieties of kale greens are of two types. Scotch types have gray-green
and very curled and crumpled leaves while Siberian types are blue-green
and less curled. Both dwarf and tall types are available with
the dwarf types being preferred. Widely adapted varieties include
Premier, Vates, and Siberian. In New Zealand, Kapeti kale has
shown high yields, high-percent utilization, high-stem utilization,
and improved club root resistance. Most preference tests reveal
kale varieties sandwiched between the higher-preferred rape and
the lower-preference turnip varieties. However, all are close
relatives and it would not surprise me that other trials would
show different results. Other varieties include Darkibor, Dwarf
Siberian, Vates Blue Curled, Dwarf Curled Scotch, Blue Ridge,
Dwarf Green Curled, Improved Vates, Redbor, Starbor, Tall Scotch,
and Vates Dwarf Blue.
Just like rape, kale would be best suited for deer as a mixture
with other brassicas, chicory, or clovers as long as the brassica
rate is held low enough (less than two pounds per acre) to prevent
shading of the clover and chicory companion plants. Better yet,
divide your food plot in half, planting one strip in a rape/kale/turnip
mix and the other half in a clover/small grain mix. This will
assure survival of all varieties and species in the plot with
both strips serving a specific function. The brassica function,
of course, would be late fall and early winter grazing after the
clover mix goes dormant.
There are numerous mixes on the market today including those sold
by Barenburg, BioLogic, and Pennington. Best management of a kale
stand would include application of additional N (nitrogen) at
30 to 60 days after establishment (100 to 150 pounds per acre
of 34-0-0). Just like rape, do not plant kale or other brassicas
on the same ground for more than two successive years to prevent
potential fungal disease problems.
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